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H.R. 862, a bill to authorize the conveyance of two small parcels of land within the boundaries of the Coconino National Forest containing private improvements that were developed based upon the reliance of the landowners in an erroneous survey

May 15, 2013

Cost Estimate

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on April 24, 2013

Summary

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on April 24, 2013

H.R. 862 would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to sell certain federal lands located within the Coconino National Forest. Based on information provided by the Forest Service, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have a negligible impact on the federal budget. Implementing the legislation would increase offsetting receipts and associated direct spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. However, CBO estimates that those changes would have no significant impact on future budget deficits. Enacting H.R. 862 would not affect revenues.

H.R. 862 would authorize the Secretary to sell 19 small parcels of federal land totaling less than 3 acres to a representative of several private homeowners. The bill would require the homeowners to pay a total of $20,000 for the parcels and to cover any administrative costs associated with the sale. The Secretary has the authority to sell the lands under current law; however, the bill would allow the Secretary to sell the parcels in a single transaction rather than through separate transactions with each affected homeowner. The bill also would allow the Forest Service to retain and spend proceeds from the sale, without further appropriation, to acquire other lands. CBO estimates that the agency would spend those proceeds within the next three years.

The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.